Will new Nunavik park protect Nastapoka River?

Will Quebec “forget” a gem in its largest national park? This is the first test for a “sustainable” Plan Nord.

Ever heard of the Tursujuq national park project? Located east of Hudson Bay in Nunavik, it is set to become — no less — the largest national park in Québec, following the upcoming official announcement by the Charest government.

Only then will the final park boundaries be known, and at the same time, the fate of the majestic Nastapoka River.

In preliminary studies, the Nastapoka River was considered to be a crucial element for integration into the future park — as much by scientists as by the Inuit and Cree communities involved in the process.

Indeed, the river boasts several characteristics that make it an irreplaceable jewel of Quebec’s natural heritage. Of note is the presence of the only salmon population in eastern Hudson Bay, a population of endangered beluga whales in the estuary, and at the source of the river, Seal Lake, home to an endangered population of freshwater seals, one of the very few such populations on the planet.

Despite these attributes, and nearly unanimous support from stakeholders to include the Nastapoka River in the national park, to date there are no indications that the river will be protected.

A wild river in northern Quebec with hydroelectric potential? It’s easy enough to guess who is opposed to its protection.

Why should we worry about the fate of the Nastapoka? The answer goes far beyond the mere creation of Tursujuq national park – and goes to the essence of the conservation component of the Charest government’s Plan Nord.

Recall that on Nov. 6, more than 200 stakeholders, including Inuit representatives, were invited to Quebec to hear several ministers extolling the possibilities of economic development in northern Québec.

An ambitious project for Quebec’s economy, it goes without saying, but this development must not be detrimental to the environment.

To this end, the premier has repeatedly promised to prohibit industrial development on half the territory north of the 49th parallel, an area equal in size to that of France.

This commitment has been supported by several environmental groups, including our own, because it offers the possibility of a balanced approach to development, where areas of ecological significance are to be identified and protected before free rein is given to industrial projects.

And that is another reason to worry about the fate of the Nastapoka. If Quebec cannot conserve this unique river, crucial for preserving biodiversity, what should we expect to see set aside in view to protect 5o per cent of the territory?

Will future generations inherit protected areas that preserve important ecosystems and their functions, or merely those areas that were of no interest to industry?

If the latter is the path chosen by Québec, development associated with the Plan Nord may be anything but “sustainable.”

Patrick Nadeau
Director of Conservation
CPAWS Quebec

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